US Targets Russian Officials in Election Probe

U.S. investigators are targeting at least six Russian officials suspected of hacking into Democratic Party computers in a probe of Moscow's meddling in last year's presidential election, the Wall Street Journalreported Thursday.

The Justice Department has enough evidence to charge the officials with computer crimes, but the Russians are unlikely to face trial in an American courtroom because Moscow would not extradite them, the paper added.

The Journal, citing "people familiar with the investigation," said the prosecutors could file formal charges against the Russians next year.

"If filed, the case would provide the clearest picture yet of the actors behind the DNC intrusion," the Journal said.

U.S. intelligence officials have accused Russia of hacking into the computer system of the Democratic National Committee and exposing emails that showed Democratic officials favored Hillary Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the race for the party's presidential nomination.

"U.S. intelligence agencies have attributed the attack to Russian intelligence services, but haven't provided detailed information about how they concluded those services were responsible or any details about the individuals allegedly involved," the Journal reported.

Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of colluding with Russia to defeat Clinton, but the president has repeatedly denied his campaign had any such contacts with Moscow.

The White House also has pointed out that charges filed this week against Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and another top aide this were unrelated to the presidential election. A third former aide was charged with lying to the FBI.

U.S. investigators are targeting at least six Russian officials suspected of hacking into Democratic Party computers in a probe of Moscow's meddling in last year's presidential election, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.